(4) K-3 Carolrhoda On My Own Books series. Illustrated by Ellen Beier. Ludington was only sixteen when, at the request of her father, Colonel Ludington, she rode to alert Connecticut colonists that British soldiers had attacked nearby Danbury. Ludington's daring nighttime ride will intrigue younger readers, while the muted illustrations evoke the colonial period. An author's note with biographical information is included, but no sources are listed.

Reviewer: Cyrisse Jaffee

(4) K-3 Carolrhoda On My Own Books series. Illustrated by Lance Paladino. An accessible narrative introduces this important historical figure to independent readers. The text, which describes Carver's life as a slave in the mid-1860s, his education, and his pioneering work as an agricultural scientist, ends a bit abruptly. The paintings that accompany the text are somewhat stiff but warm. A brief afterword and a time line are included.

Reviewer: Kristen Oravec

(4) K-3 Carolrhoda On My Own Books series. Illustrated by Jeni Reeves. In 1931, seventeen-year-old Jackie Mitchell not only was signed to a minor league baseball contract but also struck out Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig--a first for women. Although she was later barred from baseball because it was considered inappropriate for women, Jackie's story is still inspiring. Illustrated with mediocre full-color drawings, the easy-to-read text will appeal to primary-age children.

Reviewer: Barbara Barstow

(2) K-3 Carolrhoda On My Own Books series. Illustrated by Den Schofield. In 1925, an experienced spelunker was trapped while exploring Crystal Cave in Kentucky. Ransom introduces young Arly Dunbar--a fictional character who hopes his small size will help him find his friend Floyd in the caves--but commendably sticks with the historical conclusion of the event. Schofield's illustrations on each page reflect the action and convey a strong sense of the setting.

Reviewer: Betty Carter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2000

(4) K-3 Carolrhoda On My Own Books series. Illustrated by Larry Johnson. Though the prose in this easy-to-read biography is uninspired, Rudolph's story isn't. Nearly crippled by polio, Rudolph grew up with her leg in a brace. Through hard work and exercise, she became an Olympic gold-medal-winning runner. Full-color paintings capture the split-second movement of "the fastest woman in the world." An afterword briefly discusses Rudolph's post-running life, and a time line is included.

Reviewer: Amy Timberlake

(4) K-3 Carolrhoda On My Own Books series. Illustrated by Jeni Reeves. This simply written book focuses on three periods in Babe's life: her childhood in Beaumont, Texas, her years as a high school basketball star and budding all-around athlete, and her accomplishments at the 1932 Olympics. Her later golf career is discussed in the brief afterword. The flatly written prose is accompanied by effective colored pencil illustrations. A time line is included.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(4) K-3 Carolrhoda On My Own Books series. Illustrated by Janice Lee Porter. This short, somewhat superficial biography introduces one of the most heroic sports stars of the twentieth century. The easy-to-read chapters, accompanied by stylized artwork, cover Owens's childhood, college years, and Olympic medal-winning performance in Berlin. A black-and-white photograph illustrates the afterword. A list of important dates is included.

Reviewer: Cindy Lombardo

(4) K-3 Carolrhoda On My Own Books series. Illustrated by Shelly O. Haas. Designed with an easy-reader format, this short book will be of most interest to those already familiar with the Little House books. The first half describes a few scenes from Laura's childhood without offering many details or facts, which limits the book's usefulness. The latter half, however, offers some information about Wilder's adult life that may intrigue her young fans. Airy watercolors accompany the text. A time line is included.

Reviewer: Anne St. John

(4) K-3 Carolrhoda On My Own Books series. Illustrated by Phyllis V. Saroff. Mary Anning collected and sold fossils for a living in the early nineteenth century. A self-taught paleontologist, she earned a small amount of scholarly respect for her finds (e.g., the first pterosaur found in England), though her work was generally undervalued. Short sentences create a rather wooden narrative around this well-researched information, and the illustrations are accurate but static. Bib.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(3) K-3 Carolrhoda On My Own Books series. Illustrated by Janice Lee Porter. Freed slave and activist Clara Brown and radical abolitionist John Brown are profiled in these early readers. Simple sentences make for taut story lines and render weighty themes, especially John Brown's controversial legacy, accessible to children. The spare, expressionist paintings in Aunt Clara are mostly successful in conveying emotions in a few strokes; some human figures in John Brown are stiff and awkwardly rendered.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) K-3 Carolrhoda On My Own Books series. Illustrated by Janice Lee Porter. Picasso's life story is told with economy, verve, and diplomacy. While emphasis is placed on anecdotes that will appeal to children (we learn that Picasso's son's toy cars were used to make a baboon sculpture), there's no attempt to dodge complex subjects like cubism, Guernica, and the artist's moral lapses. The moody, textured illustrations, which include fine imitations of Picasso's paintings, complement the master's style.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) K-3 Carolrhoda On My Own Books series. Illustrated by Ralph L. Ramstad. Freed slave and activist Clara Brown and radical abolitionist John Brown are profiled in these early readers. Simple sentences make for taut story lines and render weighty themes, especially John Brown's controversial legacy, accessible to children. The spare, expressionist paintings in Aunt Clara are mostly successful in conveying emotions in a few strokes; some human figures in John Brown are stiff and awkwardly rendered.

Reviewer: Nell Beram